FIRST INTERNATIONAL NEEDLESTICK PREVENTION GROUP GROWS
Added: (Wed Feb 27 2002)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
CONTACT: ISIPS | Ron Stoker, 801-280-8797|
SOUTH JORDAN, Utah – Melanie enjoyed working in the cardiovascular cath lab. She was diligent in following safety procedures, always wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment. She was assisting the cardiologist on an angioplasty procedure on the day that “it” happened.
The physician had placed a small needle designed to pass a wire through the blood vessel in the patient’s groin. The cardiologist was using a guidewire and catheter to perform a contrast injection and a series of x-rays on the arteries of the heart. After advancing the guidewire into the patient, the cardiologist removed the needle and set it down on the paper drape covering the patient. During the procedure the needle slid into a crease in the drape. While cleaning up, Melanie gathered the drape to throw it away when the needle stuck into her left palm, leaving a deep puncture wound. Although the needle had only been in the patient for a few seconds, it would cause a lifetime of concern for Melanie, because the patient had recently tested positive for HIV.
Although Melanie’s name has been changed to protect her identity, her injuries and those sustained by healthcare, custodial staff, and waste management workers is real. It has been estimated that more than 2,000,000 global needlestick and other sharps injuries occur each year and many more go unreported. Recent studies indicate that an average hospital experiences approximately 30 needlestick injuries per 100 beds per year. Using safety-engineered products can prevent many of these injuries.
In Melanie’s case, the needle used to pass the guidewire into the patient could have been replaced with a safety version of this product, such as the AXIA RSN Guidewire Introducer Safety Needle, manufactured by MedAmicus. In this safety version, the needle withdraws into a protective shield while still in the patient thus reducing the risk of an accidental needlestick to the physician or those that work with him.
The International Sharps Injury Prevention Society (ISIPS) actively promotes sharps injury prevention products such as the safety guidewire introducer safety needle. ISIPS is an international group of medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers, health organizations, healthcare professionals, medical waste disposal experts and others joining forces to provide education, information, and product knowledge that help reduce the number of sharps injuries that occur each year.
ISIPS welcomes three new corporate members:
Retractable Technologies Inc. is an ISO 9001 certified company that designs, develops, manufactures and markets safety needle devices for the healthcare industry. The Company's VanishPointÒ products offer engineered sharps injury protection. Patented automated retraction removes the needle from the patient upon activation, virtually eliminating healthcare worker exposure to contaminated needles. VanishPointÒ products are designed specifically to prevent needlestick injuries and to prevent reuse. For more information call 1-888-703-1010 or visit their web site at www.vanishpoint.com.
Terumo Medical Corporation is a global medical manufacturer with a commitment to quality medical products, reliability in customer service, and cost management. Terumo is dedicated to the safety of health care workers from needlestick and other sharps injuries. Terumo Medical Corporation offers solutions to ensure compliance with engineering controls cited in the latest OSHA requirements on Bloodborne Pathogens. TERUMO® SurGuard™ Needle Protection System, TERUMO® SurGuard™ Sheath Only, and the Surshield™ Winged Infusion Sets are available. Additional TERUMO® Safety Devices will be launched within the next year. For more information, call 800-283-7866 or visit their web site at www.terumo.jet.com
PenJet® Corporation has recently introduced the PenJet, which is a major breakthrough in needle-less injections for liquid and lyophilized drugs. It is a single use, disposable jet injector that comes prefilled with the proper drug dose. It can be administered in a few seconds by a caregiver or by the patient themselves. For more information, call 310-201-0800 or visit their web site at www.penjet.com
"We invite all manufacturers with safety devices to join with us in providing a one-stop shop for healthcare workers who are looking for best-of-breed products to reduce sharps injuries," said Ron Stoker, executive director of ISIPS. “We have identified more than 60 categories of sharps injury prevention products and services. Alternate technologies are available to reduce needlestick and other sharps injuries.”
ISIPS has recently expanded the weekly newsletter to allow infection control managers, risk managers, clinicians, law enforcement personnel and others to read the most recent news on sharps injuries and how to prevent them. The newsletter contains links to the best of medical and healthcare websites on the Internet. Those interested in receiving the free newsletter can sign up for it at http://www.isips.org/register.php
Other ISIPS corporate members include:
- Porex Medical, 909.390.9080, www.porex.com
- Amsino, 800.632.6746, www.amsino.com/
- Medamicus, (NASDAQ: MEDM), 800.559.2613, www.medamicus.com
- Bio-Plexus, 860.870.6112, (OTCBB: BPXS), www.bio-plexus.com/
- SuturTek Incorporated, 978.251.8088, www.suturtek.com
- Biomedical Disposal, Inc., 888.393.9595, www.biodisposal.com
- Becton Dickinson, 201.847.6800, (NYSE: BDX) www.bd.com/safety/
- Inviro Medical Devices, Inc., 604.681.9399, www.inviromedical.com
- B. Braun Medical, Inc., 800.523.9676, www.bbraunusa.com/
- Greiner Bio-One: +43.7583.6791.0 www.greiner-bio-one.com
- The Immunization Branch of the California - Department of Health Services, 510.540.2067 www.cdlhn.com
- DeRoyal, 800.251.9864, www.deroyal.com
- New Medical Technology, 800.522.1512, www.newmedicaltechnology.com
- Portex, Inc., (603) 352-3812, www.portexusa.com
To find out how to join ISIPS or for more information, call 801.280.8797 or email info@isips.org